Monday, May 16, 2011

Bolt obsession claims new victim

Dave Gaukroger, usually the more measured half of the Dave and Jeremy Pure Poison duo, today goes all Jeremy Sear hysterical over a straightforward Andrew Bolt post in which the conservative commentator describes the arrest of IMF chief and potential French presidential candidate Dominique Strauss-Kahn on sex assault charges as "embarrassing .. and rather career ending." Bolt obviously is referring to likely embarrassment for both the IMF and France, also noting that Strauss-Kahn's IMF and political careers are likely finished.

I beg your pardon? Embarrassing? That’s your first response? A man has been accused of a violent sexual assault and you label it embarrassing?

Perhaps Andrew didn’t feel that his first comment was dismissive enough, because he followed up with:

It’s astonishing how the urge to procreate can so overwhelm the survival instinct.

This, from a man who sneeringly refers to those he views as ideological opponents as barbarians.

Sexual assault is not about procreation, and it’s not an embarrassment. To treat the subject in such a glib manner is astounding. Sexual assault is still grossly underreported throughout he world, offhand snark like that published by Bolt is one of the reasons that women often feel too afraid or ashamed to report their experiences.

The charges against Strauss-Kahn, which he has plead not guilty to, are serious ones. Before innocence or guilt is tested in a court of law it’s fair to say that both of the people involved in this incident have had their lives irrevocably changed for the worst. The decision to mock the situation is one that is unfathomable to me.